Paper short abstract:

The paper focusses on references to ufological material in the wider sense of the word (and including the ancient astronauts-theory) in one of the younger Japanese new religious movements, Kofuku no kagaku viz. Happy Science, founded in 1986.

Paper long abstract:

The Japanese new religious movement Kōfuku no kagaku (literally, ‘the science of happiness;’ presenting itself internationally as Happy Science), founded in 1986, is in many ways a typical example of the most recent phase of new religions in Japan. Amongst its many features the interest in several ufological topics is an interesting aspect. The contribution is an attempt to interpret these teachings and their evolvement within the emergence, the early history and the further development of the movement, but also in the wider context of the recent history of Japanese religions in general. A particular focus will be laid on one specific aspect of ufological traditions, namely the ancient astronauts theory, that plays a prominent role in Happy Science. References to this concept are an important ingredient in the movement’s specific view of history that is characterized by the idea of a sequence of various cultures (including the lost continents Atlantis and Mu). Standard topics of the vast ancient astronauts-literature (obviously inspired by the books and films of the Swiss-German author Erich von Däniken as its best known propagator) are constantly referred to as additional proof for the presupposed history. In this regard the concept of (spiritual) ‘science’ as purported by the movement is of primary interest as it is intrinsically interwoven with the the topic of ufological references. All that is prominently presented in many media productions of Happy Science that include manga but also full-length, professionally made anime as part of a highly developed and thorough publication strategy. The paper will try to situate this specific material in the context of the movement’s teachings and the wider religio-historical setting, i.e. recent Japanese religious and cultural history.